Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 56% higher in Naperville, IL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,713
+52% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,594
+39% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,889
+36% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$2,446
+58% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$509,900
+92% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$150,937
+125% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$54,720
+12% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
40.1 yr
+3.7 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
57.4%
74.3%
+16.9 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
71.7%
+39.9 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
24.1 min
31.4 min
+7.3 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
85.7
+85% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
892.2
+66% in Jacksonville, FL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.2°F
49.9°F
+20.3°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
36.9 in
+12.3 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.77/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Naperville, IL

Area: Florida vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — JTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.2
23.9
+57% in Naperville, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$15.39
+35% in Jacksonville, FL

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Naperville, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Jacksonville, FL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Naperville, IL
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Naperville, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / IL)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.95%
+5.0 pp in IL

Jacksonville vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Naperville?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Naperville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Naperville?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).